RESIDENTS in Grays have expressed concern about work that has started on the building of a proposed house of multiple occupancy (HMO), even though it does not have planning permission.

An application for a conversion project to create an HMO at 25 Arthur Street has only recently been lodged with Thurrock Council, on its building control site.

The application, submitted on Tuesday, 16 September, is for building control permission to create a six bed HMO, which includes a loft conversion, from the existing terraced dwelling.

Neighbours have taken to social media to highlight the application and express their concerns.

The rear of the property.

A successul building control application is not the equivalent of full planning permission and the council's planning portal, which features the application, decribes it as an 'invalid application.'

A post says: "No planning permission granted, but construction is well underway, having begun on the same date the application was made.

"Neighbours, including those sharing party walls with the property, were not consulted or made aware. 

"The loft conversion overlooks the entire gardens of neighbouring properties. 

"Objections can be sent to [email protected]."